Dear Dr. Halevi Appreciate your expert opoinion on IBS. My client is not responding to acupuncture. She is 24 years old and is having acute pains and urgent need to defecate almost always on Saturday nights and early Sunday mornings. Regards Mike

Just like my previous response today to Jan, I can not give you a proper advice without having a syndrome differentiation with this case. IBS may be the result of many different etiologies. The treatment procedure will vary dramatically from case to case. Just a point to think of If this is a habitual syndrome, i.e.,

quote:

urgent need to defecate almost always on Saturday nights and early Sunday mornings.

try to interrogate her about eating, drinking or other regular habits which she is used to doing on Saturday, or even Friday evening. I have met patients who needed every weekend to participate in a family meal (by their relatives), which had a devastating effect on their general health. Either emotionally or on their digestive system. If this is the case, try to eliminate this cause.

I am fairly new particpant into acupuncture and am suffering w/ IBS. I have integrated acupuncture w/ herbs (both TCM and non-TCM) I hope it is acceptable to offer some views outside of TCM. IBS is more than likely caused by a pathogenic organism (bacterial/nematode/ protozoan or yeast or a combination), improper terrain (poisons/toxins food allergies *A western plight!)

TCM presents the idea that liver congestion is a contributing factor, which makes sense in the idea that the production of bile has influence on the bowel ecology, it is not just a mechanism for the release of toxins. Buplerum formulas such as CHAI Hu GUI JIANG TANG or Xiao Yao Wan are decongestants of stagnant liver qi. In addition chai hu gui jiang tang has anti-bacterial properties as well as regulating IL 6 levels (inflammatory hormones due to immune response/emotional) I have treated LIV 1,5,6 & 7 which were extremely tender. GB points were tender as well. I would add that liver congestion is displayed as anger, frustration and mood swings.

Tong Xie Yao Fang has some studies in IBS management.

However improving the ecology of the gut would probably be key. Google Ohhira and probiotic, this is the very best probiotic (some would suggest a therapuetic loading does of 10 per day for 30 days). For nematode infection TCM offers Mume (Wumei Wan). It is quite possible that she may be suffering w/ protozoan type parasites such as giardia, cryptospordium, in which case Flagyl may be indicated.

Lastly colostrum offers excellent GI and immune support and there are significant studies on the use of RED MARINE ALGAE or RMA in IBS patients. It has intensive anti bacterial, yeast and viral activities (has been shown to be a viralcide of HHV6 a very nasty herpes virus attibuted to chronic fatigue and other auto-immune disorders).